EUROPE & RUSSIA: Physical Features
Chapt 14, Sect 1
1.
What are the main physical features of Europe and Russia?
The three primary land forms are: mountains (Alpine Mountain system includes the
Alps Mountains, the Balkan Mountains, and the Pyrennes Mountains); plateaus
(Central Uplands); and plains (Northern European Plains). There are also MANY
rivers and tributaries throughout Europe and Russia, including the Volga River, the
Danube River, the Rhine River, and the Rhone River. Europe is surrounded by the
Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean
Sea, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.
2.
How do the rivers of Europe and Russia create transportation corridors
throughout the continent?
Like the highways and streets do for cars, rivers, tributaries, and canals form a
network of water ways for boats that reach every part of Western Europe.
3.
How do the physical processes of the ocean affect the continent of Europe?
Warm water from the Gulf of Mexico, called the Gulf Stream, flows north and east
along the western edge of Europe. The warm waters keep the northern coastlines of
Great Britain and Norway from freezing in the winter, even if the land is covered in
ice and snow. Moist, warm air blows inland from the coast, along the North European
Plains warming the land. As the moist air rises over the Alpine Mountain system, it
condenses and falls as snow on the mountains. The melting snow creates many of the
rivers in northern Europe; the rain shadow (warm, dry side of the mountains) is along
the Mediterranean Sea, creating a sub-tropical climate far north of the Tropic of
Cancer.
plateau
large, raised area of flat land
tributary
river or stream that flows into a larger river
navigable
wide enough, deep enough, and clear of obstacles to allow ship travel
peninsula
body of land with water on three sides
Eurasia
world’s largest landmass; continents of Europe + Asia together
Europe
second smallest continent in the world; contains 48 countries
Russia
largest country in the world; part of Russia is in Europe (where most of their people
live) and part of Russia runs the entire northern part of Asia
Ural Mountains
mountain range that separates Europe from Asia
Siberia
Asian part of Russia, it runs from Europe to the Pacific Ocean
E UROPE & RUSSIA: Physical Features
Chapt 14, Sect 1
European Region
Location
Northwestern Highlands
Northern parts of Great
Britain, France, and
Scandinavia
North European Plains
Southern England and
France to the foothills of
the Ural Mountains.
Central Uplands
Central Europe
Alpine Mountain System
Southern Europe (Alps are
central south; Balkans
from Greece to the Black
Sea; Pyrennes are
between France and
Spain)
Spectacular mountains are
used for winter sports and
for the glaciers and snow
they capture.
Northern Asia, east of the
Ural Mountains
Long, cold winters, harsh
conditions, small
population; much of the
land is covered by the
tiaga; plains, plateaus,
and mountains, with 20
active volcanoes.
Siberia*
*Not a part of Europe; but
a part of Russia east of the
Ural Mountains
Features
Ancient mountains eroded
by wind and weather;
climate is severe, soil is
thin and farming is poor.
Large flat area, gently
rolling hills, rich soil, great
farming, large
populations.
Plateaus mainly; too rocky
to farm, but rich in
minerals and good for
grazing goats/sheep.
Nuggets:
 Melting snow and glaciers are the source for many important rivers.
 Rhine River begins as two streams coming from the Alps, runs for 865 miles, and
flows to the North Sea.
 Volga River is the longest river on the continent; found in Easter Russia; empties
into the Caspian Sea; frozen three months of the year (as are most rivers in Russia).
 Danube River is the second longest river in Europe; runs through right countries and
empties into the Black Sea; navigable year round.
 Europe is a peninsula (surrounded by water on three sides) and it has five peninsulas
[Jutland (Denmark), Italian (Italy), Iberrian (Spain & Portugal), Scandinavian
(Norway & Sweden), and Balkan (Greece and surrounding countries)].
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SUMMARY: The physical features of the regions that make up Europe and Russia determine the land use,
population density, and transportation corridors.